The Mets try (again) to kickstart their season against the Nationals

TL;DR

The New York Mets (9-19) face the Washington Nationals (13-16) at Citi Field, seeking to improve their disappointing season. After a recent losing streak, the Mets hope to capitalize on the Nationals' struggles and find some momentum.

Key points

Mets have a 9-19 record; Nationals are 13-16.
Mets are missing key players like Francisco Lindor.
Recent performance includes a 12-game losing streak.
Mets face struggling Nationals pitchers.
Series outcome could impact Mets' season trajectory.

New York MetsWashington Nationals

Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals infielder CJ Abrams (5) warms up to bat in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images The **New York Mets (9-19)** welcome the **Washington Nationals (13-16)** to Citi Field for their first meeting of the season, as well as the first in-division series of the year for the Mets. There isn’t too much to say about the Mets’ season at this point that hasn’t been said already here, on WFAN, in every sports column in the tri-state area, every bar that shows baseball games, as well as shouted by passersby who see me still wearing a Mets cap. This is a terrible, terrible season thus far by just about every available metric. The Mets have played the bulk of their games without one of their two biggest stars, the bats have been as silent as Marcel Marceau, the pitching performances from the folks who need to be good have been disappointing, and almost every player has underperformed in some capacity. I won’t quite say that everything that could’ve gone wrong has, because there is always something worse that could come around the corner. But looking at even the measured, modest expectations some put on this team versus where they are now, it’s stark. After their twelve game losing streak, the Mets won two against the Twins and things looked like they might get back on some sort of track. But then, the Mets were swept by the Rockies, scoring just four runs across three games and looking like a warmed over Double-A offense against a last place club. , without stronger performances from and , without some sort of solution to the black hole that is the bottom of the Mets’ lineup, there doesn’t appear to be many options for getting this team back on track. A healthy in the lineup would help, but last we heard, he was ‘week to week’ with his dual achilles and wrist injuries. If Polanco returns, it seems unlikely that he will immediately slot into the first base slot, rather taking a bulk of the DH at bats. Both and have struggled at first, so that is a position that needs to be sorted. needs to have better at-bats. and Francisco Alvarez need to heat up. Some of those things—namely Soto, Alvy and Bichette—seem likely to happen, just based on talent and track record. It also seems likely that the Mets’ starting pitching situation will begin to sort itself out after another turn or two in the rotation. If Senga continues to struggle, it seems likely that he’ll be demoted to the bullpen and, perhaps, David Peterson will get his rotation spot back. With unable to return for another week or so, the only other option in Triple-A that looks like more than a one-start fill in would be Jonah Tong. But Tong could really use some more time on the farm to develop, so Wednesday’s “TBD” may see any number of possibilities taking the ball. If there’s good news for the Mets, it is that, aside from the Braves, the rest of the NL East isn’t looking so hot either. The Nationals are three games under .500, which the Mets can only dream of at this point in the season, but the Mets aren’t exactly facing a powerhouse this week. The Mets are also lucking out in that they are missing both and , and so this seems like a perfect opportunity for the bats to get some work in against two pitchers with atrocious ERA-s (186 and 209, respectively). The Nats are arriving in Queens after taking two of three from the , another team that isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire. The last Mets/Nats series at the end of 2025 saw Washington take two of three, a result that directly led to the Mets missing the playoffs, so there is some residual animosity here, in addition to the usual divisional heat. However, so much of the Mets’ team has turned over since then, who knows if there’s any juice left there. If we are being optimistic – an if the size of an ocean – this is the perfect team for the Mets to buck up against and attempt to right the shit-ship before May begins. If we’re being pessimistic, if the Mets can’t beat the Nats, this might be an early sign that things won’t get any better any time soon.

Q&A

What is the current record of the New York Mets and Washington Nationals?

The New York Mets have a record of 9-19, while the Washington Nationals are at 13-16.

Why have the Mets struggled this season?

The Mets have faced issues such as injuries to key players, underperforming bats, and disappointing pitching performances.

Who are the key players missing for the Mets?

The Mets are missing Francisco Lindor and have concerns about Jorge Polanco's health due to injuries.

What is the significance of the Mets' upcoming series against the Nationals?

This series is crucial for the Mets to gain momentum and avoid further setbacks, especially after their previous loss to the Nationals that affected their playoff chances.